Dual flush valve for water closets

Abstract

A dual flush valve assembly for use in the water storage reservoir of a conventional toilet is disclosed. The assembly includes a first valve, a second valve and an actuation arrangement adapted for controlling the opening and closing of those valves. The first valve is adapted for effecting a discharge of a first quantity of water, the second valve is adapted for discharging a second quantity of water. The first quantity of water is measurably smaller than the second quantity of water. The invention provides a means whereby the user may select the quantity of water discharged in a flush cycle according to the type of waste materials being disposed of.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A flush valve assembly for use in the water storage reservoir of a toilet having water outlet, said flush valve comprising: a first valve means positioned within said storage reservoir and above said water outlet, for closing said water outlet, said first valve means being associated with said water outlet for closing said water outlet;   said first valve means comprising; an open-sided first upright tubular conduit, defining a first interior channel, mounted within said storage reservoir to communicate with said water outlet, and   a first plug, pivotedly mounted to a first support member mounted within said storage reservoir, said first plug being dimensioned to be inserted into an open end of said first tubular conduit thereby closing said first conduit;     a second valve means positioned within said storage reservoir and above said water outlet, said second valve means being associated with said water outlet for closing said water outlet; said second valve means comprising; an open-ended, upright, solid-walled second tubular conduit, defining an second interior channel, mounted fixedly on said storage reservoir, said second conduit defining at least one aperture in a sidewall thereof communicating with said second channel, said second channel communicating with said water outlet, and   an open-ended, upright, solid-walled third conduit defining a third channel therein, mounted on said first conduit, said third conduit being displaceably and slidably mounted coaxially within said second conduit,   wherein a first displacement of said third conduit communicates said aperture with said water outlet and a second displacement of said third conduit seals said aperture from communicating with said water outlet,     a respective actuation means mounted on said first valve means and said second valve means, for individually opening said first valve means and said second valve means;   wherein upon said first valve means being opened by said actuation means said first valve means is adapted to discharge a first quantity of water from said storage reservoir, and said second valve means, upon being opened by said actuation means, is adapted to discharge a second quantity of water from said storage reservoir, said first quantity of water being measurably smaller than said second quantity of water.   
     
     
       2. The flush valve assembly of claim 1 wherein said first valve means is positioned elevationally higher than said second valve means within said storage reservoir. 
     
     
       3. The flush valve assembly of claim 1, wherein said actuation means comprises: a handle journaled through said water storage reservoir;   a first lever, mechanically associated with said handle and said first valve means, said first lever being adapted to be actuated by a first displacement of said handle to open said first valve means; and   a second lever mechanically associated with said handle and said second valve means, said second lever being adapted to be actuated by a second displacement of said handle to said second valve means.   
     
     
       4. The flush valve assembly of claim 3 wherein said actuation means further includes: a first flexible member mounted on a first end to said first lever and on a second end to said first plug; and   a second flexible member mounted on a first end to said first lever and on a second end to said second conduit.   
     
     
       5. The flush valve assembly of claim 3 wherein said second lever is a bell crank pivotedly mounted to said water storage reservoir actuated by a third displacement of said first lever. 
     
     
       6. The flush valve assembly of claim 1 wherein said plug is fitted with a hollow open-ended housing means adapted for buoyantly retaining said plug out of contact with its valve seat on its respective conduit until a water level in said storage reservoir becomes elevationally lower than said plug. 
     
     
       7. The flush valve assembly of claim 1 wherein said second channel is mounted collinearly with said first interior channel. 
     
     
       8. The flush valve assembly of claim 1 wherein said actuation means is positionable in two operative conditions, a first condition wherein both said first and second valve means are opened and a second condition wherein said first valve means is opened and said second valve means is closed. 
     
     
       9. The flush valve assembly of claim 8 wherein said actuation means further includes: a first flexible member mounted on a first end to said first lever and on a second end to said first plug; and   a second flexible member mounted on a first end to said second lever and on a second end to said first conduit.   
     
     
       10. The flush valve assembly of claim 9 wherein said plug is fitted with a hollow open-ended housing means adapted for buoyantly retaining said plug out of contact with its valve seat on its respective conduit until a water level in said storage reservoir becomes elevationally lower than said plug. 
     
     
       11. The flush valve assembly of claim 10, wherein said flush valve includes a base support mounted on said second conduit having a latching means associated therewith for retaining said third conduit in its first displacement condition until a water level in said storage reservoir has descended below a selected level. 
     
     
       12. The flush valve assembly of claim 11, wherein said latching means comprises: an upright extension defining a finger, said extension being pivotedly mounted on said base support;   a bendable, semi-rigid arm having a float mounted thereon, said arm being mounted on said extension, said float being buoyant and operating to bias said extension against an exterior surface of said second conduit upon said water level in said storage reservoir being above said float;   wherein said finger is adapted to engage and retain said third conduit, thereby retaining said third conduit in its first displacement orientation.   
     
     
       13. The flush valve assembly of claim 12, wherein said second conduit defines a slot therein dimensioned to receive said finger and permit said finger to engage said third conduit. 
     
     
       14. The flush valve assembly of claim 13, wherein said float has a sufficient mass to exert a moment on said extension of sufficient force to disengage said finger from said third conduit upon a water-induced buoyancy support of said float being remove due to a descent of said water level in said storage reservoir below a selected elevation of said float.